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Hemp-Growing Could be First Step to Medicinal Cannabis in Utah

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is considering a new rule that would allow some farmers to grow limited varieties of cannabis for research purposes.

The rule, given initial approval Tuesday by the state’s Agricultural Advisory Board, would allow anyone with a permit to grow industrial hemp, cannabis plants that contain only small quantities of THC, the psychoactive compound associated with marijuana.

Under the rule, to obtain a growing permit, producers would have to submit a research plan for state approval, though the scope of potential topics for research is broad, said Melissa Ure, a policy analyst for the Utah Department of Agriculture.